There is a stark divide on attitudes to immigration between Sinn Féin voters in Northern Ireland and in the Republic, with Northerners much more positive about the effects of inward migration than their Southern counterparts, according to the findings of voter surveys in both parts of the island.
On the whole, voters in both Northern Ireland and the Republic share similar views about immigration, with about half of voters in both jurisdictions (47 per cent in the North, 51 per cent in the South) indicating they believe immigration benefits a country both economically and culturally.
But these numbers mask significant differences between different cohorts of voters – including among Sinn Féin voters either side of the Border.
Sinn Féin voters in the South are much more negative about immigration than their Northern counterparts and exhibit attitudes which more resemble Northern unionists.
Sharp divides in attitudes to immigration within Northern Ireland, and either side of Border
Stark divide on immigration between Sinn Féin voters North and South
When it comes to personal feelings about unification, who are the Protestant ‘ultras’?
A quarter of Northern Protestants would absolutely ‘hate it’ if unity referendum passed
Sinn Féin voters in the North, by contrast, are much more likely to be positive about the effects of immigration – 61 per cent say inward migration is good for the economy and society.
Northern pro-union voters (31 per cent), voters from a Protestant background (32 per cent), those in the North who identify as British (33 per cent), DUP voters (20 per cent) and Sinn Féin voters in the South (38 per cent) are the groups with the least positive attitudes towards immigration, when asked whether people generally thought immigration was beneficial economically and culturally.
Pro-unity voters in the North are much more positive about immigration than pro-UK voters there.
In the South, Fine Gael voters (60 per cent) exhibit more pro-immigration views than Fianna Fáil voters (50 per cent).
The findings are part of the North and South research project for which two simultaneous opinion polls have been conducted each year for the past three years. Each poll was conducted by Ipsos – Ipsos Northern Ireland in the North and Ipsos B&A in the South – surveying more than 1,000 voters at multiple points across both jurisdictions.
In addition, this year, two deliberative forums have been held, one in each jurisdiction, in order to allow selected participants to discuss the constitutional issue and related questions in a structured setting. The surveys and deliberative forums took place in the second half of 2024.
The North and South project is a collaboration between The Irish Times and the Arins Project. Arins – Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South – is itself a joint project of the Royal Irish Academy and the University of Notre Dame in the United States.
The Arins/Irish Times project aims to provide independent and unbiased information on the state of public opinion in both jurisdictions on the constitutional future of the island, on what influences the views of people, how they might change in the future, and what a united Ireland – if it were ever to happen – might look like.
Last week, The Irish Times reported the first findings of this year’s surveys which found that while Northern Ireland would vote decisively against joining a united Ireland, the margin between the pro-unity and pro-UK sides has declined sharply in the last three years.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
